Time to think about PR

Perhaps one shouldn’t tempt fate by talking about a crop that isn’t in the bin yet. It won’t be a bumper for everyone, and let’s not forget those still struggling with the aftermath of last year’s flood, or those on the wrong side of the feed grain price equation. That said, there are some eye-popping

Mosaic to dial back potash production

Citing “lower near-term demand,” fertilizer giant Mosaic Co. has announced plans to cut back the output from its potash mines in Saskatchewan for the next four months. Mosaic, which in late December said it would also reduce its finished phosphate production until the end of March, said Feb. 3 it will reduce its planned potash


Fertilizer demand rises again

Paris / Reuters – World demand for fertilizers will rise again this season to hit a new record level, driven by growth in emerging economies and strong fundamentals in agricultural markets, the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) said Jan. 5. Fertilizer demand, expressed as consumption of key nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, should rise three per

PotashCorp Profit Soars On Strong Demand

PotashCorp, the world s top fertilizer maker, said Oct. 27 its quarterly profit more than doubled, as strong grain prices boosted demand for its crop nutrient products. Despite wides pread economic concerns during the quarter, the push to capitalize on strong crop prices continued to support demand for fertilizer around the globe, the company said.


Devastating Drought Expands In Texas

news reuters A devastating drought continues to have Texas in its grip, but some rain is falling on neighbouring states. Texas so far has suffered more than $5 billion in agricultural losses, and wildfires have scorched millions of acres as the state suffers its longest dry period on record. About 97 per cent of the

Brazil To Slash Fertilizer Imports

Brazil will slash imports of nitrogen and phosphate in the next five years as local deposits are mined, but the farming giant will still depend on foreign miners for potassium, industry officials said on July 12. A forecast produced by the National Association of Fertilizer Distributors (ANDA), estimated Brazil’s consumption of these inputs would reach


In Brief… – for Mar. 3, 2011

New president:William Hill has been appointed president of the Flax Council of Canada, replacing Barry Hall, who is retiring. Hill has 30 years experience in the Canadian grain and agricultural futures industry, including 13 years at the senior management level. Most recently he was president and COO of ICE Futures Canada (previously Winnipeg Commodity Exchange).

PotashCorp To Restart Anhydrous Plant

Citing much-improved margins, fertilizer giant PotashCorp said Feb. 1 it will launch an 18-month, US$158 million startup process for its idled anhydrous- processing operations in southern Louisiana. The Saskatoon firm in 2003 suspended ammonia processing at Geismar, south of Baton Rouge, citing prohibitively high prices for the natural gas used to make anhydrous. It kept


CWB Must Be A Strong Advocate For Farmers

For over 30 years, I have produced wheat and canola near Benito, Man. This has made me a strong supporter of the single-desk marketing and farmer control of the Canadian Wheat Board. These are the reasons I am asking for your support in the Canadian Wheat Board directors’ elections. It matters who we elect and

Potash Important To Canada’s Future, Ritz Says

Canada must protect its future as a supplier of food but also of the fertilizers used to produce them, says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “When we look at a strategic resource like potash – which is the basis for fertilizers and so on around the world – we do a tremendous job of supplying both